My Gurudeva once wrote that the palace of rasa rests upon the foundation of tattva.

Without that foundation, the palace of divine love cannot stand.

So often we hear about rāgānugā-bhakti, about feelings, moods, sweetness — and yes, these words are attractive, deeply touching the heart. But without tattva, without proper understanding of the spiritual reality upon which devotion stands, these feelings become unsteady, sentimental, and at times even misleading.

Many devotees, unfortunately, tend to dismiss tattva as “vaidhi nonsense,” as if knowledge and realization were obstacles to spontaneous love. Yet the Gosvāmīs never taught such duality.
Their own rāga-bhakti was firmly rooted in siddhānta, in the clear knowledge of the nature of the soul, the Lord, and the eternal relationship between them.

When tattva is neglected, “love” easily turns into emotional projection — a reflection of the material mind that mistakes imagination for realization. When tattva is honoured, the heart becomes steady, clear, and receptive to true bhāva.

Bhāva is not a passing feeling. It is a living current of spiritual emotion that manifests in a purified heart, guided by realization and surrendered practice. It is the blossoming of the eternal identity (siddha-deha) revealed through mercy — not a product of mental creativity.

Rāgānugā-bhakti is therefore not about collecting moods; it is about deep internal following — anugamana — of the eternal Vrajavāsīs, especially the mañjarīs, whose love for Rādhā-Mādhava flows effortlessly because it is grounded in perfect tattva-jñāna.

And above all, everything rests upon the grace of Śrī Guru.

It is he who plants the seed of understanding, nourishes the heart with truth, and reveals the path of loving service. Without his mercy, neither tattva nor rasa can awaken within us.

Only when the ground is solid can the palace rise high.

And when it does, every feeling, every emotion, every tear becomes real — because it rests upon truth and the boundless grace of Śrī Guru.

Jaya Rādhe Śyām.